Improvement in sheet-metal cans



e. W. BELL. SHEET-METAL CAN.

Patented J'u1yl'7, 1877.

N. PETERS, PHDTO-L/ITHQGRAPHER, WASHXNGTO D c.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. E93,!08, dated July 17,1877; application filed February 12, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BELL, of thecity of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Metal Cans,

which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andthe accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a can complete, showing a projecting cord. Figs. 2and 5 are sections of the seam and cord. Fig. 3 is a detached section ofthe top or end and Fig. 4, a section of the-can-body, showing theexternal groove.

This invention relates to certain improvements in metallic cansfor'which Letters Patent were issued to me September 21, 1875, No.167,870 reissued September 26, 1876, No. 7,324, and in which a fibrousor elastic packingcord inclosed within the seam is described andclaimed.

Thisimprovement consists, first in forming an external groove in thebody of the can, near the end thereof, to receive a packing or sealingsubstance, and in constructing-the top or end with a depending flange ofsufficient width to cover the said substance when applied to the can,said flange being crimped snugly against the sealing or packingsubstance by suitable tools; and, second, in constructing the top or endwith a depressed center equal in diameter to the internal diameter ofthe can-body, and turning its edge so as to form an internal recess toreceive the end of the can-body, and also a sealing substance, and adepending flange to cover the external groove in the can-body, andinclose the packing-cord. This coating also protects the fibroussubstance of which the packing is composed from disintegration, which isliable to be caused in the act of applying the seaming-tools to crimpthe flange of the top, and when the cord is designed to be used as anopener the coating preserves its tensile strength, and also prevents theprojecting end from unraveling.

In the drawing, A represents the body of the can, constructed with theexternal groove 0 near its end, to receive the packing-cord. B is thetop or end, constructed with a depressed center, that fits within thecan-body, and having its edge turned over and down upon the exterior ofthe can, covering the external groove 0. By this construction aninternal recess, 01, is formed in the top or end to receive the end ofthe can, and may also contain a sealing substance to seam a perfectlyair-tight joint. The cord is placed in the groove 0, and

the top or end applied, and the flange a, is crimped snugly against thecan by suitable tools. 1

When it is desired to open the flange a, and remove the top B, I makethe cord of sufficient length to extend around the can and projectbeneath the flange of the top, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it may begrasped and pulled downwardly, thereby turning the flange outwardly.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire-tosecure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. The combination of the can-body A,having an external groove, 0, and the top or end B, having a dependingflange, a, said flange inclosing a sealing or packing substance, placedentirely outside of the body and within the groove, and being crimpedsnuglyagainst the same, as set forth.

2. The combination of the can-body A, having an external groove, 0, thetop or end B, having the depending flange a and a packingcord arrangedwithin the groove, and with or without the projecting end, said flange abeing crimped snugly against the can-body, as described.

3. The combination of the can-body A, having an external groove, 0, thetop or end B, having the internal recess d and depending flange a, and apacking-cord arranged within the groove, substantially as shown anddescribed.

I GEO. W. BELL. Witnesses:

ALEX. MELHADO, GEORGE BELL.

